Anchor hold-down device

ABSTRACT

A hold-down device including a front bracket for hooking over the crown of an anchor, a cradle for receiving a rearward portion of the shank of the anchor, and a pair of deck plates serving as rests for the tips of the anchor flukes. The cradle includes a leaf spring on which the shank of the anchor rests. The shank is releasably held in the cradle by a locking bar having a laterally extending pin engageable in notches in the upper portion of the cradle. The locking bar carries a leaf spring on its underside which in an over-center locked position of the locking bar holds the shank of the anchor down on the spring in the cradle. A spring pressed catch is utilized to assist in maintaining the pin in the notches except when pulled out by the operator.

Lantz.

1 Jan. 115, 1974 1 ANCHOR HOLD-DOWN DEVICE William F. Lantz, 3915 NE. 72nd Ave., Portland, Oreg. 97213 [22] Filed: Aug. 9, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 279,084

[76] Inventor:

[52] US. Cl. 114/210 [51] Int. Cl 1363b 21/22 [58] Field of Search 114/210, 206, 221; 292/257, 247; 24/270, 273, 263 B; 280/179 R; 248/361 [56] I ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,101,067 8/1963 Brydon 114/210 2,954,004 9/1960 Evans l 114/210 2,705,467 4/1955 Ogg et a1... 114/206 R 1,639,870 8/1927 Valsvig 292/257 627,987 7/1899 Dick 24/270 2,778,084 l/1957 Imparato... 1. 24/263 B 3,159,393 12/1964 Villano 24/263 B Primary Examiner'George E. A. l-Ialvosa Assistant Examiner-Galen L. Barefoot Attorney-Eugene M. Eckelman [57] ABSTRACT A hold-down device including a front bracket for hooking over the crown of an anchor, a cradle for receiving a rearward portion of the shank of the anchor, and a pair of deck plates serving as rests for the tips of the anchor flukes. The cradle includes a leaf spring on which the shank of the anchor rests. The shank is releasably held in the cradle by a locking bar having a laterally extending pin engageable in notches in the upper portion of the cradle. The locking bar carries a leaf spring on its underside which in an over-center locked position of the locking bar holds the shank of the anchor down on the spring in the cradle. A spring pressed catch is utilized to assist in maintaining the pin in the notches except when piilled out by the operator.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ANCHOR HOLD-DOWN DEVICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to new and useful improvements in anchor hold-down devices.

On small craft and similar boats where the anchor rests on the deck when not in use, it has been found dangerous to leave the anchor loose since rough water might cause the anchor to slide around on the deck, causing damage to the boat or injury to persons who may be in close proximity to the anchor. Means have heretofore been used to tie down anchors on the deck but such means have not been entirely satisfactory. For example, it is necessary that the anchor be readily detachable from the hold-down means so that it can be released fast and moved down over the side'at the critical time. The release means of prior devices, however, do not have the convenience or fast operation necessary in many circumstances. In addition, hold-down means heretofore provided have not included a structure which is reliable for holding the anchor in place under all conditions because in some cases the anchor can be accidentally disengaged from the holder. Thus, it has been found that devices heretofore employed for holding anchors are so bothersome and inefficient in use that frequently the beater will do without them.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION According to the present invention and forming an important objective thereof, an anchor hold-down device is provided which incorporates the combined features of positively holding down an anchor on a deck and at the same time permitting fast and easy removal of the anchor.

A more particularly object of the present invention is to provide a hold-down device for anchors employing a front bracket for hooking over the crown of the anchor and a cradle in which a portion of the shank is releasably locked down, such structure being arranged to securely hold the anchor in place and at the same time to be quickly and easily releasable.

Another object is to provide an anchor hold-down device of the type described including in such cradle a spring base and a spring engageable locking bar, such structure cooperating to provide the positive hold down and quick release.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the anchor holddown device of the present invention, an anchor being shown secured in place in such device;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the hold-down device; and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of cradle means of the hold-down device, taken on the line 3--3 of FIG. 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The present hold-down device is illustrated herein for holding down an anchor of a type which is in common use. Such commonly used anchor has a stock 12, I.

a crown 14, a pair of flukes l6 terminating in rearward tips 18, and a shank 20 which has rotation through a part of a circle relative to the rest of the anchor. The free end of the shank 20 has an eye 22 for connection to a line, not shown. The anchor structure just described is representative of many types of anchors since they all generally comprise a front crown, a pair of flukes, and a shank, the holder now to be described being arranged to be used with substantially all these types of anchors.

The present hold-down device comprises a front bracket 24 having a base 26 adapted to be attached to the deck as by screws 28. Projecting upwardly from the base is a body portion 30 having a rearwardly angled or hook portion 32. With the anchor in place, the stock rests on the base plate 26, as best seen in FIG. 1, and the angle portion 32 projects over the top of the stock to hold the anchor down at the front. A pair of small plates 34 are secured to the deck, as by screws 36, and are selectively positioned to provide rest plates for the tip ends of the flukes. These rest plates have upwardly extending projections 37 at their rearward portion which are engageable by the tip of the flukes, thus preventing rearward movement of the anchor. Such projections may be provided by the formation of V-shaped slots arranged to receive the tip ends 18.

Disposed in spaced relation from the bracket 24 is a cradle member 28 having a bottom wall 40 and a pair of side walls 42 in a U-shaped open-top structure. The cradle member is suitably secured to the deck as by screws 44.

The side walls 42 are spaced from each other a sufficient amount to allow the shank 20 to move therebetween, and while it is desired that free movement be provided of the shank into and out of the cradle it is preferred that the dimensions be such that the shank will not have any appreciable side-wise or pivotal movement relative to the cradle member in order that the crown cannot accidentally be dislodged laterally from the bracket 24. The cradle member 38 has an elongated arched leaf spring 46 secured on the bottom wall 40. This spring forms a base support for the shank 20 of the anchor. It is anchored at one end, as by rivets 48, with the opposite end thereof being free to adjust longitudinally to allow flexing action of the spring particularly when the anchor is being latched or unlatched by means now to be described.

The shank is releasably held in place by a locking bar 50 having a latch pin 52 extending outwardly from the respective side edges near the front. The locking bar 50 is of less width than the distance between the two side walls of the cradle so as to be movable therebetween, and these side walls have locking notches 54 in which the latch pin 52 may be engaged. The notches 54 extend downwardly and forwardly from the top edges of the walls and have undercut portions 56 in which the pin projections are adapted to be disposed when in locked position.

Mounted on the underside of the locking bar 50 is a leaf spring 58 having a downwardly arched configuration. This spring is arranged for engagement with the shank of the anchor in a locked position as will be described in greater detail hereinafter. One end only of the spring 58 is secured to the locking bar, as by rivets 60, allowing the opposite end to rnov'e longitudinally upon flexing of the spring.

Mounted in one or both of the side walls 42 at about the bottom of the notches 54 are spring pressed balls 62. The location of the balls 62 is selected such that they will allow engagement of the projections of the pin 52 in the undercut portion of the notches but will retain the pin against accidental dislodgement when the locking bar is released.

The rearward end of the locking bar 50 has an eye 64 for connection to a chain 66 secured at its opposite end to the deck to prevent loss of the locking bar when it is not in its locking position.

Also associated with the present structure is an auxiliary cradle member 68 rearward of the cradle member 38. This auxiliary member serves as a rest for the free end of the anchor shank and is suitably attached to the deck, as by screws 70.

To install the anchor in the hold-down device, the anchor is positioned with the crown placed under the hook portion 32 of the bracket 24. The shank is next laid in the cradle and the rearward ends of the flukes disposed on the plates 34. The free end of the shank rests in the auxiliary cradle 68. The locking bar 50 of 20 course is set to one side as the anchor is being placed in position.

To lock the anchor down, the locking bar 50 is then latched in place by first tipping it upwardly to enable the latch pin 52 to be moved into the notches 54. The locking bar is then pivoted down in a clockwise direction and as it approaches the locked position shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the leaf spring 58 on the underside thereof causes the latch pin to force itself over the catch 62 and up into engagement with the undercut portions 56. In the final locking movement of the locking bar, it moves to an over-center position with its spring 58 and it will stay locked. The spring 46 will flex as necessary to allow the locking operation, and in the locked position the shank is resiliently held between the two springs. It is to be noted here that even though the anchor is not in the holder, the locking bar can be locked in place so that it will not swing on the deck, the two springs 46 and 58 having sufficient curvature and flexibility to be engaged in a locked position to hold the locking bar in place.

To remove the anchor, the locking bar is pivoted upwardly to release the force oi spring 58. The bar can now be removed by moving the pin 52 out of the notches 54. To remove the cross pin 52 from the bottom of notches 54 requires a slight pull in order to force the pin over the catches 62. After the locking bar has been removed, the shaft of the anchor is lifted a sufficient amount to also lift the flukes out of engagement with the plates 34. The anchor can then be pulled rearwardly to disengage the crown from bracket 24.

The structure of the present hold-down device provides a positive holder for the anchor in that the latter cannot be accidentally displaced. The anchor is held against forward movement by the front bracket and is held against rearward movement by the rest plates 34. The anchor cannot pivot laterally out of the holder by reason of confinement of the shank in the cradle and also by reason of engagement of the tip ends of the flukes with the plates 34. If the locking bar should accidentally be released, the catches 62 nevertheless hold the latch pin 52 in place to prevent removal of the locking bar. Thus, the present hold-down device has the advantages that an anchor is securely and safely held down but at the same time can be quickly removed when necessary.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims. For example, the latch arrangement may be used on structures other than anchor holders.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A hold-down device for anchors of the type having a pair of flukes, a crown, a shank pivotally connected to the flukes at its forward end and extending rearwardly between the flukes, said hold-down device comprising,

a. hook means arranged to be secured on the deck of a vessel and arranged to receive the crown of an anchor for holding such portion of the anchor down,

b. a cradle member disposed rearwardly of said hook means and having a pair of side walls arranged longitudinally whereby to receive a portion of the anchor shank therebetween,

c. spring support means in said cradle between said side walls on which the shank of an anchor is adapted to rest when disposed in the hold-down device,

d. means defining notches which open upwardly in the side walls of said cradle and which have an undercut portion,

e. a locking bar arranged to be disposed longitudinally in said cradle and having laterally projecting latch pin portions removably and pivotally engageable in said notches to provide a pivotal latch connection, and a spring secured on the underside of said locking bar providing spring engagement of said locking bar on the shank of the anchor,

g. said spring having an over-center position upon pivoted movement of said locking bar in one direction to provide a locked connection of said latch pin portions in said undercut portions and having a released position upon pivotal movement of said locking bar in the other direction for removing the latter from the cradle member.

2. The hold-down device of claim 1 including spring pressed catch means in said notches arranged to maintain said latch pin portions in the undercut portions of said notches. 

1. A hold-down device for anchors of the type having a pair of flukes, a crown, a shank pivotally connected to the flukes at its forward end and extending rearwardly between the flukes, said hold-down device comprising, a. hook means arranged to be secured on the deck of a vessel and arranged to receivE the crown of an anchor for holding such portion of the anchor down, b. a cradle member disposed rearwardly of said hook means and having a pair of side walls arranged longitudinally whereby to receive a portion of the anchor shank therebetween, c. spring support means in said cradle between said side walls on which the shank of an anchor is adapted to rest when disposed in the hold-down device, d. means defining notches which open upwardly in the side walls of said cradle and which have an undercut portion, e. a locking bar arranged to be disposed longitudinally in said cradle and having laterally projecting latch pin portions removably and pivotally engageable in said notches to provide a pivotal latch connection, f. and a spring secured on the underside of said locking bar providing spring engagement of said locking bar on the shank of the anchor, g. said spring having an over-center position upon pivoted movement of said locking bar in one direction to provide a locked connection of said latch pin portions in said undercut portions and having a released position upon pivotal movement of said locking bar in the other direction for removing the latter from the cradle member.
 2. The hold-down device of claim 1 including spring pressed catch means in said notches arranged to maintain said latch pin portions in the undercut portions of said notches. 